Kromholtz wins SPSL 3A tourney

PHS Seahawks junior continues to perform well in postseason matches

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Peninsula junior Lisa Kromholtz initially viewed tennis as going into work. When her parents took her to courts as a young girl, she had an attitude of, “Do I have to go?”

What Kromholtz has realized is that those ventures set her up for becoming the league’s best player in her three years at Peninsula High School.

From the Class 3A/2A Olympic League to the 3A South Puget Sound League, she’s dominated with three consecutive league championships. Kromholtz is gunning for a third trip to the state tournament, which will be held May 29-30 at the Vancouver Tennis Center in Vancouver, Wash.

“Every time I go to a tournament, I want to win,” Kromholtz said. “I hate losing.”

Kromholtz’s only loss this year came against North Thurston’s in a 6-4, 6-3 effort. But she avenged it in the league championships last week at Olympia High School during the SPSL/WCC finals with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Kromholtz had an interest in soccer throughout her middle school years. She was a starting varsity player at Peninsula during her freshman year, and she said she was one of the leading scorers.

Going into her sophomore year, she had a change of heart. Kromholtz stopped using her feet to strike the ball and began focusing strictly on whacking the smaller, yellowish one with a racket.

“Tennis is more laid-back,” she said. “I felt I could get better and do it forever. Soccer was really hard on my body.”

Another reason she grew into tennis is because of its individuality. If she loses in tennis, she can take full ownership of it.

Her parents, Kevin and Pam, are United States Tennis Association members. The youngest of three girls, Kromholtz began to see a bond growing on the courts with her dad.

“It’s pretty even,” she said about playing her dad. “We play all sports together.”

As much as she’s motivated to compete and win at the state tennis tournament, Kromholtz sees tennis as a hobby. She never expects to advance to state, so she said the upside of getting this far feels 10 times better.

Peninsula girls tennis coach Linda Lightfeldt said Kromholtz has rounded out her game since she came in as freshman.

“She’s very serious about tennis,” Lightfeldt said. “She wants a high seed (to the state tournament).”

Last year, Kromholtz placed seventh at the West Central District III tournament and barely made the cutoff to state. It set her up with a tough first-round match.

This season’s WCD III tourney takes place this week at Sprinker Recreation Center. The first round took place after press time.